Wheel clamp



March 25, 1924; 1,488,000

' W. D. WHlTE ET AL WHEEL CLAMP Filed A112. 18. 1921 Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

hearse stares earner WILLIAM 1'). WHITE AND JAIMES Id.

BR-OWN, G1 'LOUISVTLLLE, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEEL CLAMP.

providersuch a clamp in which simplicity of construction combined with the maximum efiiciencyof-operationand 111 which a positive engagement is attained between the various elements of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp of this character in which the rail engaging member is adapted for adjustment whereby to permit of its ready application under varyingconditions of use.

With these and other objects in View, as will be apparent from the description, our invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing improved clamp as applied;

Figure 2, a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3, a similar sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In the preferred form our improved clamp comprises a substantially rectangular base plate 1, corresponding roughly in contour to an ordinary fish plate, and adapted to lie against the web of the rail 2 when the clamp is applied. The upper face of the plate 1 is serrated as at 3 to provide for a gripping engagement against the under surface of the rail head 4:, and disposed at one end of the plate and extending laterally therefrom is a clamping member comprising a lateral arm 5, a vertical arm 6 and an inclined arm 7 all of which may be made integral or in sections as desired. The dispositions of the arms is such that arm 6 will be spaced away from the rail head when the clamp is applied a sufiicient distance to permit of the arm 7 extending inwardly over the flange of a car Wheel 8 when in use. A

set screw 9 is mounted in the end of the arm 7 'for engagement against the flange of the wheel 8, as illustrated in Figure 2'.

Adjacent the opposite end of the plate 1 I provide a longitudinally extending slot 11 having an upwardly curved portion 12 at its outer end. Slidably mounted in the slot 11 is a stud 13 held in the slot by collars 1 1, and having a laterally extending portion over which ismounteda clamp member 15 comprising a vertically extending arm 16 and a laterally extending arm 17 carrying at its outer end a depending flange 18 adapted to'engage over the head'l of the rail when applied, as illustrated in FigureB. Suitably'd'ispo's'ed inthe arm 16 is avset screw 19 operated by a suitable handle mechanism 20 and adapted to bear against the plate 1 for clamping engagement of the member 15. The provision of the upwardly turned portion 12 of slot 11 permits the clamp member being lifted with the stud 13, sliding within the slot, whereby the clamp may be readily applied over the head of a rail and moved downwardly thereon to the proper position as desired. In the operation of the device, the plate 1 is laid against the web-bf a rail and the clamp 15 applied in the manner described, whereupon the device is anchored to the rail head. Set screw 9 is then operated to bear against the flange of the wheel 8, and it is obvious that the wheel will be tightly clamped to the rail and will be efiectually prevented from rising therefrom when the car body is jacked up. To dismount the clamp, it is simply necessary to operate the set screws 9 and 19 to release the clamps, whereupon the member 15 may be slid upwardly to release the entire clamp from the rail and wheel. As illustrated, all extending portions of the. clamp are disposed in the same lateral direction which renders all parts readily accessible and eliminates the disadvantage of inner clamping members now generally in use.

While we have illustrated and described certain details which enter into the construe tion and operation of the invention, we desire it to be understood that we do not intend to limit ourselves to these, but that any such modifications may be used as will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim;

1. A clamp of the character described. comprising a base plate, a wheel clamping comprising a substantially rectangular face plate adapted to engage the Web of a rail, a laterally extending clamp member carried b said plate, means in said member adapted to engage a car Wheel for clamping the Wheel to the rail, one end of said plate having a slot therein, a member slidably disposed in said slot for longitudinal adjustment relative to said plate, and a rail clamping member carried by said longitudinally adjustable member and adapted to engage over the head of the rail.

4. In a Wheel clamp, a base plate adapted to be engaged against the Web of a rail beneath the head thereof, a lateral bracket on said plate, a vertically extending arm on said bracket, and an inclined arm carried by said 7 vertical arm and adapted'to extend over the flange of a Wheel, clamping means in said inclined arm for engagement With a Wheel, said plate havinga longitudinal slot therein, one end of the slot being curved upwardly adjacent one end oi said plate, a stud slidable in said slot, a clamping plate on said stud, a depending flange on said clamping plate to engage over the head of a rail, and means in said clamping plate adapted to coact with the base plate for clamping said device to a rail.

5. In a clamp of the character described, the combination of a plate adapted to be engaged against the Web of a rail beneath the head thereof and at one side 01" the rail, a clamping member disposed at one end of said plate, and a rail clamping member adjacent the opposite end of said plate, and longitudinally and vertically movable thereon. V

In testimony whereofwe affix our signatures.

WILLIAM D; WHITE. JAMES M. BROWN. 

